editorial comment paraphernalia did not know Canadians were forced to subsidize the US war on drugs.....no wonder taxes are high!

Canada is being forced to fight the U.S. war on drugs on its own soil, says the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

Vancouver police were directly involved in the U.S.-led investigation that saw pot activist Marc Emery arrested last week as part of the two countries' mutual legal assistance treaty.

Murray Mollard, BCCLA executive director, says the treaty binds the hands of Canadian law enforcement and the courts.

"Clearly there's a real appetite here for treating drug issues differently than the Americans," Mollard told 24 hours yesterday. "And yet we find ourselves being bound by having to facilitate a war on drugs that the majority of Canadians don't want to pursue."

Almost seven out of 10 Canadians support marijuana decriminalization, according to a recent poll by Canada SES Research. And in a city whose councillors back progressive drug policies, Emery's arrest has prompted local politicians to question the role of the police.

"I can think of a lot more serious problems in this city that need attention from the police," NPA Coun. Sam Sullivan told 24 hours.

And Emery's lawyer, John Conroy, questioned why his client had never been charged locally before.

"For nine years (Emery has) been doing this quite openly and they've done nothing about it," Conroy told reporters outside his client's bail hearing yesterday.

Emery was granted $50,000 bail, although the Crown had asked he remain in custody, arguing the 47-year-old was likely to re-offend. Emery will be allowed to return to work at his Hastings Street bookstore and resume political activities as leader of the B.C. Marijuana Party. Emery's next court appearance is in late August.

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